John Madden retires from broadcasting

[Roon]

NEW YORK - NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol announced today that John Madden, Hall of Fame coach and the most honored broadcaster in sports television history, has decided to retire from broadcasting.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30246064/

[Kolesar]

1. Yay!

:applause:

[WilliamPitt]

2. Brett Favre.

[DS1]

3. YES! Spending more time with his Farvily

[hangman86]

4. Finally!

One less idiot in the NFL.

[Captain Hilts]

5. He's not an idiot. nt

[WilliamPitt]

6. I watched a replay of a game he called back in the early 90s

It was amazing. I learned things about football listening to him do that game, which is the mark of a superlative broadcaster in my humble o.

In his time, he was the best color-commentator in the game.

Not so much now, but there's a reason he was around for so long.

[lazyriver]

13. He used to offer unique insights into the game by breaking down

plays live on the air during games. I think he was the first notable NFL broadcaster to really do that. He also used to give glimpses of the lives and thought processes of coaches and players living in that bubble. Sadly, he was reduced to a caricature of his silliest tag lines over the last 10 years or so. I can't stand listening to him now but appreciate his contributions as a coach and broadcaster over the years.

[Karenina]

19. Coach Madden fed my love of the game.

[dysfunctional press]

7. BOOM!

[NeedleCast]

8. Damn, I loved Madden

He's almost seemed senile in his latter years, at least on occasion. Someone would be sprinting down the sidelines on a 102 yard kick-off return and Madden would be talking about a burrito he ate last night, or circling a funny looking bird on the sidelines with the tele-strator. I'll miss the unintentional fun he brought to pro football.

[guitar man]

9. There is a God!!

:D

[Yukari Yakumo]

10. Elsewhere, someone at EA just got nervous... {nt}

[WilliamPitt]

16. Madden himself will be on the next cover.

Bet the farm.

[Paladin]

11. Glad To Hear It. (n/t)

[Renew Deal]

12. Sad to hear it.

I loved him. He wasn't as good the last few years, but that's because of age. He is still fantastic, and a legend.

[NJmaverick]

14. 10 - 15 years ago he was great

He helped educate fans and made the game better and more understandable. Then gradually he became a parody of himself as age and success took their toll.

[TheKentuckian]

15. Makes me a little sad despite the wheels coming off of late, of course I'm a Raiders fan

so, John gets special love from me.

[Mopar151]

17. Sad thing

I don't watch much football - but I saw one of the wheels come off in a super bowl a couple years ago.
In his prime, he was like watching a race with Buddy Baker and Neil Bonnet (the old TNN guys with Mike Joy) - they could tell you more in an offhand remark than some guys could get out all afternoon.

[Historic NY]

18. Well his backup plan is selling "Ace is the Place".